When Ivon Padilla-Rodriguez netted $100,000 in tuition money for winning a Dr. Pepper sponsored football-throwing contest during halftime of the SEC championship game, she was overcome with emotion.

Right after taking the prize Padilla-Rodriquez was interviewed, and the University of Nevada student showed her appreciation by tearfully declaring to a national television audience, “Dr. Pepper is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

While such praise of a soft drink may sound ridiculous, it should be noted that $100,000 and a life without any school loan debt is a really big deal. Also, as you can see below, Padilla-Rodriquez won the prize with some pretty nifty throwing.

Watch Padilla-Rodrquez's emotional reaction, as well as a video that we think describes how she feels, below.